Omaha daily bee., 1887-03-04

THE purchase OF the Herald at the price
paid including the real estate, is doubt
less good venture II regarded as COM
mercial speculation. But as a move by n
lucky and ambitious politician 10 secure
personal organ to still further advance
his political fortunes, we predict that dis
appointment will ensue. In the eastern
states the practice OF ownership or con.
troll of newspapers by politicians to
sound their praise, print their speeches.
defend their votes or acts and at all times
to advocate their political advancement
has long since grown into "lnocuous
desuetude.n As the press grew strong
its members found more profit, independ-
ence and self-rcspect in serving the peo-
pies interests than those of any individ-
ual, and even where the service of the
public to that of an individual was not
preferred, the papers worth buying be-
came too valuable to be bought by poll
ticians, whose usual capital consisted in
personal ambition and the hope OF gain
from the public Office they sought.
But as too often happens the worn
out theories and practices of the east,
in this as in other respects, have
been transferred to the west, where
the rapid acquisition of fortunes
in mining, grazing and real estate usually
begets the desire for political distinction
and leadership. Great and rapidly ac
quired fortunes seem unsatisfyng to
men of the west unless they can be made
instrumental in securing political pre-
ferment, and to this end most of them
lavish money recklossly and unscrupu-
lousy at primaries and conventions, at
the polls and in the legislatures, and IN
the purchase or subsidizing of newspa-
pers, until it has become the reproach of
the west that quickly acquired wealth
controls all the avenues and steps to
political preferment from the ward
caucus to the United States senate.
Colorado is case in point. EX-Sena-
tor Hill paid $3.50, 900 to buy, and thus to
silence the opposition of the Denver
Tribune, the paper itself not being worth
probably third of that sum. He also
partially or wholly owned many other
| papers throughout the state, and in his
| political contests he has squandered
| what would be adequate fortunes for
HltIlf Illcu vi IuOucIdlC uCSlIcS. huu ySu
| all his money and newspapers failed to
| secure his reelection. Ex Governor
| Tabor is another man suddenly become
| rich, who was infected with political am
| btion. He was made lieutenant COVER
nor, then strove TO be governor, then
| United States senator for full term, but
only secured the sop of thirty.day va
cancy, during which he made himself as
ridiculous as a man of his antecedents
might be expected to do. Then he strove
again to be governor and failed and will
doubtless continue to strive for that OF
other office so long as his life or his
money last. In all these contests he has
been the most credulous and easily-im
posed upon man conceivable; he has
bought his newspapers. as usual, and
poured out his money like water.
In these examples and others that
could be cited there is warning for Johr
A. McShane. OF course his eye is upon
the United States senate. His election to
the house as the result of an unworthy
republican nomination has given him the
idea that he is the coming man of his
party in the state, and he believes that 6
personal organ ana the closing of tho
breach between the packing house and
slaughter house factions of his party
which he hopes thereby to effect, will
pave his way to Senator Manderson's
seat. But it will be strange if in his case
as in that Of others, his organ does no,
prove his ruin. When mans own paper
lauds him, it is to the public ear like the
tinkling of brass and the sounding O
cymbals. The independence of the pape
is known to be gone, and its influence
goes with it. Personally John A. Nc
Shane is a worthy man; as a politician h
has made the mistake of buying au organ